Thanks to my guest blogger Tim Somers of Bizarre Promotions for this insightful article. This is so true, enjoy!
My Best,

Kathy Kane
Market Insights, LLC

I have always tried to keep my personal life separated from my business life, but I am slowing realizing that my worlds are going to collide through the use of Social Networking. This is not a bad thing necessary, but one has to be careful in mixing business with pleasure.

A few years back I started out using LinkedIn and then Facebook to help promote my business, along with some other social networking sites and business forums. I am also a “tweeter” and find that all of these venues have helped my business grow and gain exposure that traditional marketing and advertising could never achieve.

I had been using a 90/10 mix, 90 percent business and 10 percent personal but find myself adding more and more personal information and personally related posts as my Social Networking usage continues to grow. I was and still am a bit concerned about allowing my two worlds collide.

An old episode of Seinfeld comes to mind of “Colliding Worlds” showing how colliding worlds could be a negative thing for some. It is very important to know that some of your personal activities could hinder or hurt your business. A night on the town, drinking shots and other unmentionables should not be posted on your Facebook profile, more than likely this and acts like this will negatively effect your business.

Remembering that everything you say and do, every picture, video and comment can be taken wrong by some or all of your business associates, clients and prospects.

You should also take caution with who you associate with on Facebook, Twitter and other such Social Networks. Being friends with someone that is overly obnoxious could also have a negative effect on your business. A Facebook friend that makes a post on your wall bashing the president or a religious group will very likely have a negative effect on you and your business, even if you agree with them don’t let these types of posts stay on your wall. Or you may need to hide them, if you want to keep them as friends.

That said, mixing a bit of your personal life can open the doors to business relationships that may have never been developed otherwise. A good example is when I put a picture of our new puppy (Maggie) on my Facebook profile, I was overwhelmed with comments on how cute she was and welcomed with open arms to an entirely new group because I now was a dog owner.

It is becoming clear that people want to know more about whom they are doing business with or considering doing business with. Social Networking will give you an edge over the competition if you use this amazing medium wisely the possibilities are endless.

Tim Somers
Bizarre Promotions, Inc
Marketing and Advertising through the power of promotional products.